| Location | Point Lookout, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Correspondence and Circular |
| Names Mentioned | – |
| Date | April 1, 1863 |
| Document Title | Commander of the 1st Separate Brigade of the 8th Army Corps to the Commander of the Middle Department and 8th Army Corps, Enclosing a Clipping from a New York Newspaper and a Circular by the Brigade Commander |
| Document Description | Brigdr. Genl. Henry H. Lockwood co General, 1_ Apr. 1863, enclosing clipping from New York Tribune, (Mar. 1863}, and Circular, Head Quarters First Separate Brigade, 8th Army Corps, 30 Mar. 1863, L-93 1863, Letters Received, ser. 2343, Middle Dept. & 8th Army Corps, RG 393 Pt. l (C-4130). A memorandum on the outside of the file, written by General Robert C. Schenck, commander of the Middle Department and 8th Army Corps, noted that he approved Lockwood's circular. (note 1) Section 11 of the Second Confiscation Act, adopted July 17, 1862, authorized the President "to employ" blacks in any manner for the suppression of the rebellion, but included no explicit provision about the freedom of persons so employed. Section 12 of the Militia Act, adopted the same day, did not use the word "employment" in authorizing the President to receive blacks into U.S. military or labor service, but section 13 provided that the slaves of disloyal masters who rendered such service to the U.S. "shall forever thereafter be free." (U.S., Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, vol. 12 (Boston, 1863}, pp. 592, 599.) (from The Destruction of Slavery, pages 369-372) |
| Transcription |
General, Your orders in relation to certain negroes belonging to a Mr Blackstone, a citizen of St Mary's County Md, who were fugitives from justice, were attempted to be executed, but when the Sheriff came for the negroes, they managed by some means to convey themselves away. Mr Blackstone reports to me, that they Were secreted by persons within the lines, but after a conference with the Officers here, who avow their ignorance of any such Secretion, I am confidant that this is not the fact. I enclose a copy of a circular which I have issued in order to carry out your policy with reference to the Slave population of Maryland, You will be kind enough to notify me of your views as to its propriety, Quite a number of negroes – many of whom – are Servants of persons, residing in Maryland), had, prior to the assignment of this command to me, been permitted to come within the lines, and were employed in the Quartermasters Department at this Point, as day laborers. I desire that you will inform me of your interpretation of the Act of Congress of July 17, 1862, as to whether such an employment as this, is the "employment" contemplated in the said Act, which constitutes all negroes so employed forever thereafter free. I enclose a publication - an Extract from the N. Y. Tribune) for your information. I have the honor to be, Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt. Henry H. Lockwood [Enclosure] [New York March 1863] NEGRO-HUNTING WITHIN OUR LINES. Letters from the hospitals at Point Lookout, Md., say that the slave-catcher has recently made his appearance there. Months ago persons calling themselves masters claimed as their own negroes who had escaped from Virginia as well as those who had the misfortune to belong to Maryland plantations. But under General Orders issued in conformity with a law of Congress, no officer dared to surrender them. A few weeks since, a detachment of the "Lost Children" regiment stationed at this post was relieved by the "Second Eastern Shore House Guard," under the immediate command of Col. Rogers, and the superior command of Brig. Gen. Lockwood, who spends a large part of his time at the Point. Soon after the arrival of this regiment a negro-hunter made his appearance in quest, not of a fugitive, but of a "thief," the slaves he sought having taken from their masters a boat in which to make their escape. The officer of the day was sent with a squad of men to hunt up the culprits, but was unable to find them, the law-abiding convalescent soldiers of the hospitals having found means to secrete them. Other so-called masters were more successful: having decoyed their prey beyond the lines, they laid in wait for them, and carried them off. Several instances of this have taken place. We hear that Gen. Lockwood, when remonstrated with on the subject, declared that, in allowing these things to be done he is acting in strict conformity with general orders from Gen. Schenck, the commander of the department. Those who know Gen. Schenck, and who remember the campaign of Gen. Lockwood on the eastern shore of Maryland, find it difficult to credit this assertion. [Enclosure] Pt Lookout, MD Mch 30, 1863 (copy) (circular) The Brigadier General Commanding directs that there shall be no interference with the slave population by the troops within his command except for certain specific purposes hereinafter named. Military Camps shall not be used as places of public resort or for idlers, and All those coming there, except on important business, or to give information, should be denied admittance, Such as have business will be conducted to the proper Officers of the Camp, Information will be sought for from all sources and rewards in money, with protection from danger from giving information may be promised to all, White and Black. Any one suffering from having given information will be protected, without or within the Camp, as may be necessary. Commanding Officers will generally be sustained in the protection afforded by them, but will be held responsible that there be just grounds for such protection. All cases of the kind, should be immediately reported to Head Quarters. All informants - where the information leads to a capture-will be remunerated, and with a view to this, their names should be taken, by the Officer to whom the information is given and reported. Negroes entering the Camps clandestinely, must be placed without the lines, but in no case delivered-either directly or indirectly-to their Masters, Nor should they be placed without the lines, when their masters or others seeking them are in the Neighborhood of the Camps. All vessels lying at the wharves where there are Troops will be considered within the lines. No distinction will be made as to the departure from the Shores of the Potomac of any persons, on account of color, and all orders heretofore issued or Regulations made by any officer making such distinction, either directly or by inference are hereby declared null and void. All negroes coming from the Western Shore of the Potomac will be received and protected. With a view to prevent negroes from being used in the illicit trade, all negroes leaving should be interrogated, as to whether their departure is voluntary. If it shall not appear to be voluntary, they will be detained and protected. All Commanding Officers, Quartermasters &c, are cautioned not to employ negroes in the Public Service, unless they be free or refugees from the Western Shore, but when once so employed, they will – in accordance with the act of Congress relating to the subject – be forever thereafter protected By order of Brigadier Gen’l Lockwood. |
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[Author (if known)], Documents from the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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